Aug 01, 2021

Greenville Water Ensures Healthy Water for Greenville County Schools through a Proper Flushing Program

Greenville Water remains committed to keeping our community safe and informed while also continuing to deliver clean, safe and reliable drinking water to the greater Greenville area.

As a reminder to the community, especially as a health and safety matter, Greenville Water encourages a proactive approach to flushing after prolonged facility closure. Flushing stagnant water from pipes in facilities is a necessary preventative measure to improve overall water quality and reduce any possible lead levels or bacterial growth after prolonged periods of nonuse.

While lead is not present in our drinking water when distributed from our water treatment plant to customers, the substance may enter the water after coming into prolonged contact with a building’s pipes and plumbing fixtures, therefore requiring proper flushing before use.

Greenville Water uses chloramination as an effective, long-lasting disinfection agent to ensure residual disinfection throughout the distribution network. While bacteria are not present in the water distributed from our water treatment plant to our customers, the substances may enter the water after prolonged periods of nonuse in a facility’s pipes – requiring the incorporation of flushing into regular maintenance practice (after vacations, holidays and even extended weekends) to ensure the water is chlorinated and fresh.

To support flushing efforts, Greenville Water flushed all water mains leading up to the hydrants on all Greenville County School properties at the beginning of August. Flushing water service lines and the water connections plumbed to appliances is an easy way to ensure that high water quality is maintained. The proactive flushing practice moves older water sitting in the pipes out of the building and brings in fresh, disinfected water.

For additional information on flushing, review the EPA’s Flushing Best Practices, EPA Guidance on Restoring Water Quality or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To learn more about Greenville Water’s treatment and distribution process, review the 2020 Water Quality Report.

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